Written by Maria Margarita Mentzelopoulou. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, more than 4 million Ukrainians have been welcomed under the temporary protection scheme in the EU. From the beginning of the war, the European Commission, national, regional and local authorities, together with civil society and international organisations, have worked to facilitate the reception and the integration of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Background The EU responded rapidly to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine by activating, for the first time ever, the Temporary Prote ..read more

Written by Krisztina Binder. Teachers play an essential role in providing high-quality education and making education a rewarding experience for all learners. This makes teachers key to achieving a true European education area (EEA) that offers improved access to quality education and lifelong learning for all. However, the current shortage of teachers is a widespread issue across the European Union (EU). Not only is the teaching workforce ageing but the profession has become less attractive owing to factors such as challenging working conditions and perceived low societal recognition. Teacher ..read more

Written by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass. Climate change, a global phenomenon, affects every aspect of our lives, including cultural heritage in both its forms – tangible and intangible. Extreme weather conditions expose these important elements of our cultural identity to serious threats. These threats must be addressed to protect valuable sites and preserve them for future generations. Research on climate change is not a novelty, but climate change as it relates to cultural heritage is a relatively new area of exploration and policy. The impact of climate change on cultural heritage made its ..read more

If you hold a university degree, you can apply from 1 May 2024 onwards for a Robert Schuman Programme traineeship in the European Parliament. In the DG EPRS, 23 traineeship positions will be available, which will be featured here. Candidates without distinction as to gender, sexual orientation, cultural, ethnic backgrounds or disability are encouraged to apply, with reasonable accommodation available for successful candidates with disabilities who may need them. The deadline is 31 May 2024 for the traineeship period of 1 October 2024 –  28 February 2025. A paid traineeship will enhance yo ..read more

Written by Velina Lilyanova. The Next Generation EU recovery instrument, and in particular the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with its target to dedicate at least 20 % of funding to the digital objectives, contribute significantly to one of EU’s core priorities, the digital transformation. A number of reports acknowledge the RRF as a primary contributor to most of the Digital Decade targets, namely the digital transformation of businesses and public services, as well as building digital skills and infrastructure across the EU. This briefing aims to give a flavour of what Member S ..read more

Written by Claudio Collovà and Velina Lilyanova with Nele Lüker. This briefing analyses digital public services in the national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) from a multilevel governance perspective. It seeks to present the current state of affairs, examine how existing policy is working on the ground, and identify best practice and ideas for the future on the part of governmental organisations at all levels of the European system of multilevel governance. It presents an initial appraisal of available evidence and takes as its starting point digital public services in the NRRPs of Ital ..read more

Written by Giulio Sabbati and Silvia Kotanidis. The June 2024 European elections are the focal point for a broader renewal of the leadership of all the European Union’s main institutions. This timeline sets out the main steps up until the end of 2024, with likely timings. Timeline to new EU institutional leadership European Parliament Finalisation of parliamentary work of the 9th parliamentary term; over 100 files were voted during the last part session, 22-25 April. Election campaign EBU–Eurovision debate, 23 May – lead candidates debate in Parliament’s chamber in Brussels. Other debates ..read more

Written by Silvia Kotanidis. The term ‘revolving doors’ refers to the practice of staff who have worked in the public sector being hired by the private sector. The practice not only affects staff however, it can also apply to senior public-sector managers and those in positions of political leadership. The major advantage of this practice is that the individuals hired offer skills, resources and competences that are useful for gaining access to decision-makers, as the wealth of contacts and relations acquired upon recruitment of a person who has worked in the public sector can prove a valuable ..read more

Written by Eric Pichon. At the end of January 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal (referred to as ‘Sahelexit’ by several media outlets) from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This withdrawal – with immediate effect according to the departing states, within a one-year deadline according to the ECOWAS Treaty – presents a complex set of challenges for the region. ECOWAS, initially designed to promote regional economic integration, has over the years adopted protocols to uphold democracy and good governance. On several occasions it has adopted sancti ..read more

Written by Maria Niestadt. While virtual worlds can boost children’s creativity and motivation to learn and even help them heal from diseases, they also pose multiple challenges, not least regarding privacy and exposure to harmful and illegal content. Both the European Union (EU) and the private sector have taken steps to protect children in virtual worlds, but there is still much to be done to ensure that children are not exploited or harmed in this environment. Introduction Virtual worlds (also referred as the metaverse) offer persistent, immersive environments that blend physical and digita ..read more